UK Masters Degree Loans – Country Comparisons

There are different postgraduate Masters degree loans available in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Learn how each loan works, what you're eligible for and how to apply. You can also jump to a quick comparison of the different options. If you're looking for a PhD, read our guide to UK doctoral loans.

English postgraduate loans

Student Finance England offers up to £11,570 for taught and research Masters degrees in 2021.

Welsh postgraduate loans

Student Finance Wales offers up to £17,489 taught and research Masters degrees in 2020 (this amount may increase in 2021).

Scottish postgraduate loans

Student Awards Agency Scotland offers two loans for Masters & Postgraduate Diploma courses in 2021, with up to £5,500 for fees and £4,500 for living costs.

Northern Irish postgraduate loans

Student Finance Northern Ireland offers £5,500 tuition-fee loans for taught and research courses up to Masters level in 2021.

Repaying a postgraduate loan

Our guide explains how postgraduate repayments work across the UK, with a helpful FAQ.

Applying for a postgraduate loan

Each postgraduate loan uses a separate application system. Our guide explains how they work.

Postgraduate loan blogs

Postgraduate loans are a new addition to the UK funding landscape. Our blog features regular news stories and updates.

Other UK Masters funding

Postgraduate loans aren't the only source of UK funding. Our guides cover other support, including international student funding.

A comparison of UK postgraduate loans

The UK's four postgraduate loan options have plenty in common, but there are some differences between the individual schemes.

Here's a quick comparison of the key details:

UK Postgraduate Loans in 2021
	England	Northern Ireland	Wales	Scotland
Value	£11,570	£5,500	£17,489*	£10,000**
Level	Full Masters	Up to Masters	Full Masters	Up to Masters
Courses	Taught & Research	Taught & Research	Taught & Research	Taught & Research
Length	Up to 4 years	Up to 3 years	Up to 4 years	Up to 4 years
*Wales offers Masters students a grant of between £1,000 and £6,885, based on household income. A postgraduate loan is then available to top this up to £17,489. This maximum amount is likely to increase slightly in 2021.
**Scotland offers two separate postgraduate loans for tuition fees and living costs. Their eligibility criteria differ slightly.

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UK Masters Degree Loans – Country Comparisons

A comparison of UK postgraduate loans

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